A guy holding a wine glass carefully so it doesn’t tip over, or someone trying to get comfortable while they’re fast asleep, aren’t poses — they’re just people living their lives.
We can’t be camera-ready all the time, and that’s exactly what makes these photos so entertaining and innocent.
They may look a little silly, and maybe icky to some, but they’re totally human.
It’s easy to see why some people might call these postures “icky” at first glance.
With social media constantly showing everyone at their most polished, seeing someone fail at a simple stretch or sit in a weird way can look awkward or out of place.
Take influencers posting “just woke up” reels, for example. They act like they rolled out of their bed five seconds ago, but somehow their hair is perfect, their makeup flawless, and their outfit looks like it was picked by a stylist.
Most of us wake up with messy hair, squinty eyes, and maybe a shirt inside out. And that’s why some of these awkward photos feel relatable and cute at the same time.
The ick factor isn’t new, and it isn’t just for laughs.
The term has exploded partly due to reality TV and social media, describing that sudden revulsion you can feel toward someone — especially romantic partners.
In a 2025 study of single adults aged 24–72, 64% reported experiencing the ick.
This isn’t always a dealbreaker, though, as only 26% ended their relationship immediately. 42% broke up later, but 32% stayed in the relationship despite the ick.
Women were also more likely to report feeling the ick than men (75% vs. 57%).
Researchers analyzed dozens of TikTok videos with the hashtag #theick, trying to find all the things that made people recoil from their partners.
Common triggers included acting in ways that don’t fit gender expectations, embarrassing yourself in public, weird speech patterns, or trying too hard to follow trends.
Tiny quirks like someone’s feet not reaching the floor while sitting, or a guy rocking jean-shorts, also made the list. And interestingly, looks weren’t the biggest factor at all — personality and behavior mattered far more.
While huge flaws or compatibility issues make sense for people to get the ick, many of the triggers are completely normal human quirks.
Women often said the biggest icks were men being too feminine or committing fashion faux pas. While some valid icks included men acting misogynistic.
Men, on the other hand, were more triggered by women being overly trendy, and physical appearance showed up more on their list than women’s.
"The modern dating scene is overwhelmed by individuals with high and possibly unrealistic expectations of their intimate partners. Although there is a great amount of choice out there, there seems to be little accountability for how one can self-improve towards strengthening their own relationships. The onus seems to be on the other person to present as the ‘perfect’ choice,” says Raquel Peel, a psychology researcher at the University of Notre Dame, Australia.
There are actually several reasons why some people sit or stand in ways that look… let’s say, unique.
People often discuss their weird postures on forums like Reddit, where users share how they naturally stand or sit in unusual ways — and often only notice when someone comments on it.
They say the reasons vary from comfort or habit to even sensory tendencies. For example, people on the autism or ADHD spectrum sometimes find certain poses more soothing or grounding.
Some say that squatting, lounging in a weird way, or balancing on one leg can actually be better for your back or hips.
